Fall Arts Preview

A breakdown of the season's best performances, exhibits and festivals.

Sept. 6–Oct. 6
This Land | Woody Guthrie
Strawberry Theatre Workshop remounts its dustbowl hit, featuring puppets inspired by Dorothea Lange’s iconic Depression-era photos.
Erickson Theatre Off Broadway

Sept. 8
NEPO 5K DON’T RUN
This three-mile walk features installations and performances by more than 60 artists.
From Beacon Hill to Pioneer Square

Sept. 12–Nov. 18
Big River
This production of the Tony award-winning musical based on Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn amps up Roger Miller’s country/bluegrass score.
Village Theatre in Issaquah, then Everett

Sept. 26–30
Decibel Festival
Orbital, Erykah Badu and the Cannabinoids, and DJ Shadow anchor a roster of future-forward artists at Seattle’s electronic music festival.
Various locations

Sept. 27–Oct. 28
Pullman Porter Blues
A new play by Cheryl L. West traces a poignant piece of American history.
Seattle Repertory Theatre

Oct. 4–6
Back On the Boards
The Mark Morris Dance Group performs four pieces, including a world premiere and two Seattle premieres.
On the Boards

Oct. 10–Nov. 17
Wicked
The national tour of this Broadway phenomenon reveals what happened in Oz before Dorothy got there.
Paramount Theatre

Oct. 11–Jan. 13
Elles: Women Artists from the Centre Pompidou, Paris
More than 130 artworks made between 1909 and 2007 by 75 woman artists, including Frida Kahlo, Diane Arbus, Louise Bourgeois, Atsuko Tanaka and Cindy Sherman.
Seattle Art Museum

Oct. 12–14, 19–21
The Most Innovative, Daring, and Original Piece of Dance / Performance You Will See this Decade
Amy O/tinyrage’s latest evening-length solo work is a dance lecture about gender, race and class influenced by Big Boi, Cyndi Lauper, Ciara and dubstep.
Velocity Dance Center

Oct. 12–Nov. 4
Earshot Jazz Festival
Some of the world’s best jazz musicians (Robert Glasper, Branford Marsalis) join forces with local talent (Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, Wayne Horvitz, the Garfield High Jazz Band).
Various locations

Oct. 12–Nov. 11
Ramayana
An epic, traditional story from South and Southeast Asia follows a young hero on a quest to rescue his wife from an evil king.
ACT Theatre

Oct. 13–27
Fidelio
In Beethoven’s only opera, love defeats tyranny and a wife saves a husband who’s been imprisoned for his political beliefs.
Seattle Opera

Oct. 17–20
City Arts Fest
David Byrne & St. Vincent, Mos Def, Reignwolf, eight arts performances in secret locations, a lit-crawl and many other genre-bending shows combine to create an urban adventure.
Various locations

Oct. 18–Nov. 10
Demon Dreams
A new play by Julliard grad Tommy Smith mixes Japanese storytelling with a hip-hop vibe to envision a future world dominated by demons.
West of Lenin

Oct. 26
Sonic Evolution
Seattle Symphony takes the stage with Star Anna and the Laughing Dog as music director Ludovic Morlot conducts compositions inspired by Alice in Chains, Blue Scholars and Yes.
Benaroya Hall

Nov. 2–11
All Premiere
Seattle’s biggest dance company performs a world premiere by Mark Morris, plus new works by three PNB artists.
Pacific Northwest Ballet

Nov. 16–Dec. 15
Avenue Q
Balagan Theatre takes on the off-color, Tony-decorated puppet play about coming of age surrounded by the people in the neighborhood.
Erickson Theatre Off Broadway